Aer Lingus Seat Booking

endofrainbow · 06-01-2016 04:29PM

boarding for transatlantic flights usually begins 1 hour before departure.
*
Once they are checked in on-line, they wont realise that the seat is not required just before takeoff. It would probably be to late at that stage to reassign. * not true.

lots of things go on behind the scenes that Joe Traveler is not privy to. Manifests, ESTA/Visa checking, loads etc.

The likelihood of having that extra seat to yourselves is virtually nil.

Vic_08 · 06-01-2016 07:05PM

Staff free/subsidised travel on EI is mainly standby, there can be a high demand for spare seats on busy transatlantic flights.

You won't hold a seat just through on-line check-in.

endofrainbow · 06-01-2016 11:13PM

USA isn't short-haul though.

redmondb · 21-02-2016 08:27PM

I'm feeling an usual mixture of both smugness and frustration - I managed to book a flight using the "new" (see later) Aer Lingus website.
The smugness is because I wrestled the site into submission and now have my return ticket (which is more than others in my party achieved). The frustration is because of the time, effort and workarounds needed to do this.

Having given Aer Lingus detailed, constructive feedback, I then turned to Boards to see what others were saying. Not a lot - and this despite the fact that the "new" site has been around since at least October!

Just some of the issues...
- Couldn't change earlier details without restarting the whole process.
- Perfectly good debit card consistently rejected because of "invalid card no.".
- Phone number is compulsory, but couldn't be entered by clicking on the field. Eventually, I managed it by tabbing into it.
- Clicked on the final Confirm(?) button and got a "processing" message - which lasted until the page eventually timed out. No email, so I presume the order didn't go through!
- Clicked on the final Confirm(?) button and got a "processing" message - which lasted until the page eventually timed out. This time, I did get a confirmation email!
- Having booked a seat for the outgoing flight, I couldn't do this for the return as the seat layout refused to display. (It may be that the flight is too far in the future, but if that's the case then simply say so! )

It's not just me - as I mentioned, others in my party are having these (and other) problems. So how come there's so little noise about this? And, given that I know at least one person who's been forced to use RyanAir, why have Aer Lingus allowed this for so long?

Thanks.

JCX BXC · 21-02-2016 09:04PM

I hate both the new Aer Lingus and Ryanair websites, makes it SO much harder to search for the cheapest fare.

coylemj · 21-02-2016 10:03PM

I know Aer Lingus will allow you to freeze a fare for a certain period if you pay them for the privilege but what they should also do for no fee is allow you to save a partially completed reservation. It's really infuriating when you have typed in several names for a group booking, then you want to double-check that you're using the right first name (i.e. same as appears in the passport) for one of the party but you can't make contact with them and you have everything else entered in the booking screen. They should let you store the partially completed booking screen and give you a code so you can retrieve it within (say) 48 hours and then complete it.

redmondb · 28-02-2016 03:01PM

Apologies for the delay in responding.

Carnacalla, I understand your frustration but at least it's understandable why an airline might deliberately do this!

coylemj, yes that would be ideal. However, I'd settle for being able to change something in my current session! Particularly, as you point out, when it's essential to get everything absolutely correct!

OK, no answer for my original query, so I have two working hypotheses...
(1) There were one or more bugs on the site that day and Aer Lingus have since corrected it/them.
(2) At some point in the last few weeks I officially slipped into "grumpy old man" status.

xraylady · 28-02-2016 07:40PM

I booked flight yesterday and added two bags which were 70 each but just noticed on confirmation mail that I was charged 180€. Assumed I had done something wrong but when I phoned their 1890 number, after hanging on for an age while the guy checked, was told that he didn't really know what had gone wrong but it was an error on the site and was now corrected on my booking. I then checked that I'd be refunded the 40€ and again he had to go off and check and said I would but it could take up to 28days.
It was their fault ! No apology or explanation . Quote " I don't actually know what happened myself but it's corrected now on the booking"
Smarten up Aer Lingus...

Wanderer2010 · 28-02-2016 07:41PM

I have to travel to America several times over the coming months through work and although the cost is paid for I'm stuck in economy and am wondering what the best and worst seats are in terms of legroom and comfort? I'm 6ft so legroom is obviously a consideration and the cities will be Chicago and NY. I have looked at Seat Guru but its a bit vague and amazingly all the exit rows for flights 2 months from now are sold out!

Has anyone ever sat at Seat 12K, the one at the very top right hand window side at the start of Economy? It says the position near the toilet may be annoying but that doesn't bother me if I had decent legroom! The last thing I want is to be crammed next to a loud family for 8 hours like a sardine with my legs cramping up- any advice?

coylemj · 28-02-2016 07:58PM

http://www.seatguru.com/

JCX BXC · 29-02-2016 01:39AM

coylemj wrote: »

http://www.seatguru.com/

Really? Did you even read the op???

coylemj · 29-02-2016 01:50PM

Carnacalla wrote: »

Really? Did you even read the op???

Clearly not carefully enough - missed the reference to seat guru!

Riskymove · 02-03-2016 03:02PM

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

I have to travel to America several times over the coming months through work

I few points OP , as a tall person also

I always look for Emergency Exit rows and only booked a flight 2 weeks ago for Easter and exit rows were available.

So firstly....are you sure the rows are all gone? I think you'd be very unlucky on random dates over a couple of months for them to be all gone. You could ring Aer Lingus and confirm

Secondly, does it have to be Aer Lingus, e.g. Delta now offer "Comfort Seats" for an extra €89 which includes more space and free drinks

Indeed the other airlines may have exit rows available also

Thirdly in relation to 12k, I think the advantage would be that the exit row in front of you cannot recline seats

The drawback, as you mentioned is the likelihood of the 4 Seats in the middle of Row 12 being used by families

brettmirl · 02-03-2016 08:59PM

Word of warning with 12K

I had it booked before, and there was an equipment change on my return leg from SFO, which meant there was an 11K in front of me.

If you can get it, try get 11A or 11C if at all possible.

Otherwise, I find the seats at the back are the next best options. 39-42 where the seats start to taper back...can be ok for leg room, and you can tend to get a free seat beside you

Gettingtogrips · 08-03-2016 04:39PM

To xraylady, I couldn't agree more with your request to Aer Lingus to SMARTEN UP! Getting through to somebody on the 1890 numbers (no other choice) is a nightmare only to be then held on for at least 10 minutes when they come back with an indifferent answer. Example, I phoned to ask how much I would be charged to cancel my flights. Guy disappears for a good 10 minutes, comes back and gives me an "around" figure. What had he been doing for the previous 10 minutes God alone knows - I suspect he went for a tea break. I am incredibly frustrated with Aer Lingus.

Tramontana · 21-08-2016 09:35PM

Hi! Just wondering if someone had more recent experience with aer lingus seat pre-booking? We're travelling from Cork, 2 adults and 1 child (3 years old), so I was wondering if there's a risk they will make us seat separately? 42€ for 3 persons return flight isn't that huge sum but we would find better ways to spend it.

athtrasna · 21-08-2016 09:39PM

Wait until online checkin opens and select seats then, you should be fine.

shivpepper · 21-08-2016 09:57PM

Hi all,

Yet another Aer Lingus seat selection question!
I'm flying to France on Tuesday and went to book seats online this evening (I know that there is a charge for this 30 hours before check in, but I didn't mind).
However, it states: We're sorry but online seat selection isn't possible for this flight. Seats will be assigned at check-in.

I can however select seats for my return flight from France with Aer Lingus on Friday- why is this?

VG31 · 22-08-2016 01:04AM

shivpepper wrote: »

Hi all,

Yet another Aer Lingus seat selection question!
I'm flying to France on Tuesday and went to book seats online this evening (I know that there is a charge for this 30 hours before check in, but I didn't mind).
However, it states: We're sorry but online seat selection isn't possible for this flight. Seats will be assigned at check-in.

I can however select seats for my return flight from France with Aer Lingus on Friday- why is this?

Where are you flying to?

shivpepper · 22-08-2016 08:46AM

Lyon! All sorted, when I went to do online check in today it offered seat selection.

Locker10a · 22-08-2016 10:12AM

Some Aer Lingus flights to France are operated on BA aircraft, on certain days of they week, there may be issues wit pre selecting seats on these flights as they are different aircraft types.

Locker10a · 22-08-2016 10:15AM

Tramontana wrote: »

Hi! Just wondering if someone had more recent experience with aer lingus seat pre-booking? We're travelling from Cork, 2 adults and 1 child (3 years old), so I was wondering if there's a risk they will make us seat separately? 42 for 3 persons return flight isn't that huge sum but we would find better ways to spend it.

Check in online good and early and you should be absolutely fine, the check in opens 30 hours before and if you do it straight away you should be assigned seats together

VG31 · 22-08-2016 11:51AM

Locker10a wrote: »

Some Aer Lingus flights to France are operated on BA aircraft, on certain days of they week, there may be issues wit pre selecting seats on these flights as they are different aircraft types.

I thought this may be the case at first but the BA flights are only on Saturdays.

Padraig Mor · 23-08-2016 09:38AM

Rather than start a new thread I'll stick my (possibly dopey) question in here. With Aer Lingus' current model of seat selection, if you haven't paid for a seat, do they just automatically assign you a seat at online check in - or can you pick your own (free) seat from what's left, as you could do before? Cheers!

Locker10a · 23-08-2016 11:09AM

From 30 hours before you can check in online, at this point you will be assigned a seat, if you don't like if you can change it for free to what ever is left at this point, only with the 30 hours before departure.

VG31 · 23-08-2016 12:04PM

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Rather than start a new thread I'll stick my (possibly dopey) question in here. With Aer Lingus' current model of seat selection, if you haven't paid for a seat, do they just automatically assign you a seat at online check in - or can you pick your own (free) seat from what's left, as you could do before? Cheers!

I checked in a few days ago on the Aer Lingus app. You could pick any of the available standard seats.

Padraig Mor · 23-08-2016 12:30PM

Great, thanks people.

Locker10a · 23-08-2016 01:28PM

VG31 wrote: »

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Rather than start a new thread I'll stick my (possibly dopey) question in here. With Aer Lingus' current model of seat selection, if you haven't paid for a seat, do they just automatically assign you a seat at online check in - or can you pick your own (free) seat from what's left, as you could do before? Cheers!

I checked in a few days ago on the Aer Lingus app. You could pick any of the available standard seats.

If you have pre selected a seat in advance this is possible, if you haven't however then you have to wait until 30 hours before hand

fussyonion · 05-09-2016 10:29PM

I was chatting to a travel agent over the phone today about booking a holiday.

I mentioned I would require extra leg-room seats and she said "Oh yeah, well nearer to the time you would go to "Manage my booking" on Aer Lingus' website and choose your seats and then pay.
But I don't get it.

How does that work?
If I book and pay for my holiday tomorrow, surely she has to book my seats on the plane?

If I do as she says and wait nearer the time, the extra leg-room seats will most likely be gone and why would I pay for the seats THEN when I'd have already paid her to book it for me?

Can someone explain this to me?

Del2005 · 05-09-2016 10:35PM

Did you pay extra to the travel agent to book seats? They'll have booked seats but to select a seat at booking it costs, unless you paid for them to select a seat with extra leg room they did what's required.

Aer Lingus Seat Booking

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